Wolves comment: Further emphasis on summer window now
So, the January transfer window has come and gone, and now we can reflect on Wolves’ business.
Daniel Podence was snapped up for £17million and is the third most expensive signing in the club’s history behind Raul Jimenez (£32m) and Adama Traore (£18m).
A 5ft 5in Portuguese winger who can play in a variety of attacking roles – the 24-year-old very much appears to fit the bill for Nuno Espirito Santo.
It is an exciting signing, but being as he was the only senior star to arrive, not everyone is best pleased.
Chairman Jeff Shi said back in October that he saw Wolves having a good January while insisting fresh faces were required for the club to compete at a higher level.
And do not get me wrong, Podence has the potential to be a fantastic piece of business.
The captures of young trio Leonardo Campana, Enzo Loiodice and Luke Matheson could prove shrewd moves in the years to come, too.
However, not being able to find a striker for the here and now to support Jimenez has frustrated fans – and understandably so.
At least a couple of players – a centre forward included – coming in to bolster a thin squad was what most wanted to see.
But with Patrick Cutrone, Jesus Vallejo and Ryan Bennett gone, and only Podence in, Wolves’ squad is now even leaner than it was a few weeks ago.
In terms of quality, there has not been a significant hit and Wolves, with Willy Boly and Diogo Jota back from injury, have as strong a starting XI as you will see outside the top two.
The elusive striker search, as well as those departures, though, ultimately places further emphasis on the summer window.
Wolves could do with making some statement additions during the close season as they look to keep the momentum going and cement themselves as a top-flight, and even European, force.
Although performances have been at an unbelievably high level this term – being in the mix for the Premier League’s top six and in the Europa League last 32 – the past two transfer windows have not been huge successes.
Two big signings from last summer – Cutrone and Vallejo – are gone already.
And while Podence’s capture for £17m is a significant outlay, it is also worth pointing out Wolves recently sold Ivan Cavaleiro for £15m.
They are also receiving around the same figure in instalments from Leeds for Helder Costa.
The lack of a striker for the second half of the season is not disastrous as Jota could play through the middle if needed, as a false No.9 – a role that has grown in popularity in recent years.
There is no point making a signing merely for the sake of it either.
But, make no mistake, the onus is on landing some major additions when the window reopens in the summer.
Nuno has admitted ‘inside the squad there is space for improvement’, and, hopefully, he will get what he wants.
